The government will offer around £400 million to support children with free meals thanks to Marcus Rashford’s campaigning.
The government previously rejected calls to offer impoverished children funding to combat food poverty but Rashford continued to push forward the issue and these new plans indicate massive progress.
Dubbed the winter grant scheme, the plan will provide support for bills, food and activity programmes.
£170 million will be given to councils until the end of March and then a further £210 million will be used to expand the scheme into Easter, summer and Christmas 2021.
As well as providing support for this scheme, the government will also offer the UK’s food banks an extra £16 million.
This announcement comes after Prime Minister called Rashford after his Premier League game against Everton.
Rashford said, “Following the game today, I had a good conversation with the prime minister to better understand the proposed plan, and I very much welcome the steps that have been taken to combat child food poverty in the UK.”
The footballer acknowledged that more needed to be done, especially for those not eligible for support but added, “The intent the government have shown today is nothing but positive and they should be recognised for that. The steps made today will improve the lives of near 1.7 million children in the UK over the next 12 months, and that can only be celebrated.”